Pennsylvania Marine adds diversity to international team in Afghanistan

Photo By Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde | Lance Cpl. Steven Makepeace, from Baden, Pa., was born in Russia and lived in an orphanage before being adopted by American parents and coming to the United States. Makepeace, a field radio operator with Romeo Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, is currently on his first combat deployment to Afghanistan.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

09.13.2011

Story by Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde  

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand province, Afghanistan – America has earned a reputation as the land of opportunity, a melting pot where people from all backgrounds can live and work together in harmony. The Marine Corps draws strength from this diversity by uniting men and women of varying ethnic, social, economic and religious backgrounds from across the nation, even the planet, to work together to accomplish a common goal.

Marines at Romeo Battery’s, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Fire Direction Center provide just one example of the thousands of men and women of different backgrounds working together in Afghanistan to accomplish their mission. The FDC coordinates High Mobility Artillery Rocket System requests to support units in the area, and three of four Marines who work the center’s day shift were born outside of the United States.

Lance Cpl. Steven Makepeace, from Baden, Pa.; Cpl. Ryan Wilson of McMinnville, Ore.; and Lance Cpl. Chase Allen, from Indianapolis; were born in Russia, England and Latvia, respectively, and immigrated to the United States as children.

Makepeace, a field radio operator, and Allen, a fire direction control man, lived at orphanages in their native countries before being adopted by American parents.

“I don’t really remember Russia, itself, but I do remember leaving, specifically,” said Makepeace, 21. “I remember the airplane ride back [to the United States]. [It was] small and had a little television.”

Makepeace was raised in a good family and had a normal childhood. His biggest difficulty as a child was learning the English language after coming from Russia, a challenge he overcame fairly quickly.

“My parents, they were loving. They took care of me,” said Makepeace, who graduated from Ambridge Area High School in Ambridge, Pa. The only difference I had was I had to repeat kindergarten because of my lack of English skills.”

Wilson’s childhood was much different. His father was stationed with the Marine Corps in England when he was born, and his family moved to California when he was about four.

“Going from one lifestyle to another, the way the Brits live and the way Americans live, it was a little different but it wasn’t too hard to adjust,” said the 21-year-old Wilson, a field radio operator. “It was definitely weird going from a really rainy, cloudy place all the time to sunny, really hot all the time.”

The FDC Marines embrace each others’ backgrounds and often joke about their unique situation.

“The first time I met Makepeace, I found out he was from Russia,” said Allen, 24. “I was like, ‘What is [Makepeace], [American] Indian or something?’ He said, ‘No, I’m Russian.’ I’m like, ‘I’ve never met a Russian with that kind of name.’ Then we talked about it, and he comes to find out I’m from Latvia.”

Makepeace, Wilson and Allen have all changed their lives by enlisting in the Marine Corps as young adults and dedicating themselves to serving the American people. Allen and Makepeace, especially, went from having almost no futures as orphans to earning the title of Marine and joining the tight-knit family that is the Marine Corps.

“My neighbor, he was a first sergeant in the Marine Corps,” said Makepeace, 21. He was such a big success. That’s why I joined – I wanted to have a [shot] at being successful.”

Different factors caused each of the Marines to serve for different reasons, but they all wanted to give back to the country that has given so much opportunity to them. They all come from different backgrounds but share the Marine Corps as their common bond. These Marines are happy to work together every day, as brothers.

“[Our FDC] shows how diverse the Marine Corps is,” said Makepeace. “You deal with so many different types of people that you wouldn’t normally in a civilian job. There [are] a lot of different groups – I like it.”

Romeo Battery is currently assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.

• Date Taken: 09.13.2011
• Date Posted: 09.13.2011 14:07
• Story ID: 76956
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, HELMAND PROVINCE, AF